THE DRAMA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19882, 20 March 1930, Page 2

THE DRAMA.

♦— VALUE OF STUDY. SPEECH OF NEW ZEALAND YOUTH. "I am sorry to criticise, but it seems to me that the average New Zealand child and student speak much worse than the older generation," Baid Professor L. G. Pocock in his presidential speech to a large attendance at the annual meeting of the Canterbury College Drama Society last night. "The child and student do not open their mouths, tliey do not move the lower jaw, and are inclined to mumble. They are lazy." ' Professor Pocock opened his address by a brief reference to the good work of the Drama Society. Drama was about the most accessible of the arts and provided an outlet for those who were not successful in painting, music, writing, and other arts. He did not mean to disparage drama by this for though it was certainly an imitative art, it had .many things in its favour. It was by far the best method of appreciating literature, for if one acted in a play one had to live one's part. One often did not realise the revolution in the life of mankind the printing press had made. Classic literature was written to be read aloud. There was a danger that literature would drift away from life. Acting and trying to live a part was a good schooling for appreciation. Appreciation showed one the good and bad points in literature. One should always be prepared to criticise. Dramatic work was the best school of all for elocution, an improvement of which was particularly necessary in New Zealand schools. It was teamwork which was to some extent a test of character, temper, and forbearance. It was work that brought people together in a common interest. The world was faced with the debasing effect of commercialism in the picture advertisements in the daily newspapers, said Professor Pocock. He referred to these as obscene and yodelling displays which one should read —and shudder. Those things sank in. Thousands of pounds were spent on schools each year and then all these advertisements were allowed to come before the children. He had nothing to say against pictures—one occasionally got a good one—but they generally appealed to the people of lower intellect. Some people thought that the legitimate stage was in a bad way as a result of the talkies. He did not think so. In most talkies the acting was bad and the only ones that were any good were those which bad actors from the legitimate stage. In future there would bo a close liaison between the theatre world and the talkie world. There was no reason why the acting and writing of plays should not continue to prosper indefinitely. Professor Shelley thanked Professor Pocock for his .address. Though he believed that the legitimate stage would come through ultimately, the actors would be in a bad way for a time. The production of plays would be generally carried out for the present by societies like their own. In New Zealand they had about two generations of fine plays that had not yet been produced. Many secondary schools in America were being built as fully equipped theatres for the study of drama, while a few universities possessed elaborate structures. The annual report showed that the membership of the society for 1929 was 110, as against 138 the previous year. There had been satisfactory attend- j ances at meetings throughout the year, the Little Theatre being taxed to accommodate the audiences. Though no public performances had been given, considerable time and thought had been spent in producing one-act plays. The balance-sheet showed a satisfactory credit. Officers were elected as follows:—» President, Professor Pocock; vice-presi-dents, the Rev. C. E. Crosse, Dr. Hight, Dr. Hansen, Colonel Smith, Messrs J. Schroder ■, H. D. Acland, R. Wallwork, H. A. Livingstone, F. A. Sherrock, A. K. Anderson, Dr. Helen Simpson, and Misses P. Clarke, and Gresson; producer, Professor Shelley; assistant producer, Miss Neta Billclifi; secretary, Miss Grace Burns; treasurer, Mr Worthington; committee, Misses M. Wilson, V. Tennent, and D. Maginness, and Mr C. Weaton Wacher. Reference wad made to the assistance rendered the society by the late Mr T. W. Cane.